The Best Tech and Gear for Back to School 2025

Gizmodo

16-07-2025

We know that it's mid-summer and the last thing you want to be thinking about is going back to school, reading outdated textbooks, and listening to lectures that could put you into a coma. Artificial intelligence hasn't ended traditional education yet, so we've got you covered with back-to-school tech like laptops, tablets, e-readers, PC accessories, and the fun stuff like gaming gear. Here are our selections from under $50 all the way up to $1,000.
Table of Contents
Balabala Zip Ties, 100 pcs ($4)
Zip ties might not be the first thing that comes to mind for back to school, but you'll be happy you have these to keep all your various USB and laptop cables tidy.
Canary Cardboard Cutter ($9)
Drowning in delivery boxes is just a part of life now, so you might as well make Christmas every day as easy as possible. The Canary and its serrated edges will slice through cardboard like butter, especially the industrial stuff that can break regular razor blades.
Whoosh! Screen Cleaner ($18)
Screens get grimy fast, and sometimes a once-over with a cloth just won't do. Get some screen cleaner before your laptop starts looking second-hand.
Perplexity Pro ($20)
Google search may be dead, but AI search is better than ever. With Perplexity Pro, you get access to the best models and features that make research a hell of a lot easier.
Telesin Magnetic Neck Mount ($24)
Don't want to strap a GoPro to your head or pony up $300 for a pair of Meta Ray-Ban camera glasses? This neck mount works great for capturing POV TikToks or Instagram Reels (we know you're not studying 24/7) and works with iPhones with MagSafe or even Android phones with magnetic case mounts.
Beautural Steamer ($26)
Nobody has time to iron clothes when you're cracking the books hard. This cheap steamer heats up fast and removes wrinkles from your clothes within minutes, so you look decent for class or a date.
Anker Prime 100W Charger ($46)
Never underestimate the worth of a good charger—especially one with 100W and three ports for charging three devices at the same time.
Xiaomi Precision Electric Screwdriver ($50)
It can't help you pry open your phone or tablet, but if you need to bust open a laptop or other gadget with more visible screws, this electric screwdriver is one of the best we've ever used. It comes with 64 screwdriver bits and charges with USB-C.
Keychron C1 Pro 8K ($55)
Mechanical keyboards can get pricey fast when you get nerdy with customizing the case material, switch type, and key caps. Keychron's C1 Pro 8K is a basic, vintage-looking, and fully programmable wired mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable switches and key caps that won't break the bank.
Elgato Stream Deck Mini ($58)
Creators who find they don't have that much desk space could still make use of Elgato's Stream Deck Mini. If you have no inclination to memorize keyboard shortcuts, the six buttons on the Mini offer surprising versatility across various video, photo, or streaming apps.
8BitDo Ultimate 2 ($60)
With so many controller options available, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is the handiest for playing games in your dorm thanks to its included charging dock. It costs less than many competing controllers and includes drift-resistant TMR thumbsticks to help it survive through the next several semesters.
Krups Smart Temp Electric Kettle ($77)
No judgment if your beverage of choice is a toxic-colored energy drink. But drink more tea and your body will probably thank you during the semester and when it starts creaking later in life. This electric kettle lets you boil water or heat up liquids to several temperatures (also useful for making Top Ramen), and shows it all on a handy screen.
Lego Hokusai ($85)
Your sparse dorm room needs a spot of color, and what's far better than a poster? That's right, Lego. The classic woodblock art The Great Wave looks particularly striking polkadotted with Lego nubs, plus the frame is created with Legos as well.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 ($100)
Good audio is just as important as good grades, and sometimes you need something that you can take with you in a pinch. This Bluetooth speaker is portable, has plenty of volume, and won't get bricked if someone spills a (ahem) beverage on it.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P/3X Wireless ($110)
If you're not trying to spend too much money on a pair of gaming headphones, the Arctis Nova 3P (PlayStation) or 3X (Xbox) Wireless is the most affordable available for keeping in touch with friends online or taking out on the go thanks to its light frame and fold-in ear pads.
AirPods 4 with ANC ($120)
Dorms and coffee shops can be really loud, which is why it's important to have proper ANC at a moment's notice. AirPods 4 also happen to have conversation awareness, so you won't look like a jerk if and when you do need to have a conversation with them on.
Apple Pencil Pro ($130)
Of any stylus we've used, our current favorite is still the Apple Pencil Pro. If you're using one of the latest iPads, its swivel and pressure sensors combine with the 'taptic' sensor for a unique drawing and writing experience.
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series S/X ($150)
Nothing is worse than running out of space on your console, which is why this expandable storage is your best friend, especially if you cheaped out and got Xbox Series S. These expansion cards have been out for years, but now it comes in a 4TB capacity, though you will have to fork over extra dough for the extra gigabytes.
Kindle Paperwhite ($160)
Don't fill your dorm with books; get an e-reader instead. This one from Amazon is affordable and even has different brightness modes depending on if you want warm light. Oh, also 10 weeks of battery.
Samsung T7 SSD ($160)
Taking pictures of all your unforgettable parties will take a toll on your storage. Get an SSD so your device isn't sandbagging in the middle of trying to take notes.
Logitech MX Creative Console ($200)
Aspiring photographers and video producers (fine, call yourself a creator or influencer if that's what you prefer), this one is for you. Logitech's MX Creative Console is a wireless dial and scroll wheel that really does help you breeze through edits and another 9-button macro pad (wired) for mapping more shortcuts. There's no going back to using a mouse and keyboard for editing once you get some dials and macro pads into your workflow.
Insta360 Link 2 ($200)
It's 2025, and online courses are just as important as IRL ones. This webcam has a 4K resolution so you won't look like a potato on Zoom.
Nothing Headphone 1 ($300)
The only thing more important than drowning out your roommates' terrible music taste is looking cool while you're doing it, and these headphones can do both.
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 ($400)
Chromebooks are the cheapest ways to get a new laptop, and the Chromebook Plus line mandates you'll get minimum specs that should be good enough for the vast majority of writing or browsing tasks. Acer's Chromebook Plus 514 is one of the cheapest Plus models available, but the inclusion of a touch display provides extra versatility to your work.
Nintendo Switch 2 ($450)
Your gaming life is going to get a lot more hectic while away at school. That's why having a versatile console like the Switch 2 on hand for when you're in your dorm, at home, or on the move is a blessing. Or it would be, so long as you don't end up blowing off an essay while playing a few more rounds of Mario Kart World.
Google Pixel 9a ($500)
Google's budget Pixel 9a punches way above its weight, thanks to the same Tensor G4 chip as the more expensive Pixel 9 and 9 Pros. With a big screen, all-day battery life, solid cameras, and enough power to handle Gemini AI, it's hard to find a phone value this good.
Xgimi MoGo 4 ($500)
Who buys TVs for dorms anymore? Tablets and laptops are fine, but if you want to really do Netflix and chill right, you need to get a projector that can splash Too Hot to Handle on the wall without washing out the picture. Xgimi's MoGo 4 is battery-powered, comes with auto-keystoning, and even supports light attachments that can create sunset and starry effects on your walls or ceiling.
Naya Create ($500)
The Naya Create is definitely a splurge. Its unorthodox and modular split design lets you snap inputs like a haptics-equipped dial, multi-point touch-sensitive trackpad, or a trackball. It's designed not only to help you type and mouse faster but to save your wrists from repetitive strain injury.
iPad Air M3, 11-inch ($537)
The iPad Air is the best all-rounder iPad available. It's fast for everyday tasks, but with the upcoming iPadOS 26 update on the horizon, you'll find it's going to be much easier to multitask to help with a panic study session the night before an exam.
iPhone 16E ($600)
Apple's most affordable iPhone only has a single rear camera compared to the Pixel 9a's two, and it costs $100 more, but you won't be ostracized by your friends for green-bubbling group chats. It's also getting Liquid Glass with iOS 26 in the fall, so there's that in case AirDrop, FaceTime, and Mac and iPad continuity weren't already selling points.
Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS ($600)
The Steam Deck is great, but if you want a bigger screen for your handheld PC, go with the Legion Go S with SteamOS. This version offers better performance than its Windows counterpart and makes it easy to take your vast Steam library with you when away from your home desktop.
reMarkable Paper Pro Bundle ($680)
Your expensive textbooks don't deserve to look as good as they do on the reMarkable Paper Pro's beautiful color E Ink display, but you'll love it all the same. It's the kind of digital notebook that demands you spend extra for the Marker Plus, but it's enough to make in-class note-taking actually enjoyable.
M4 MacBook Air, 13-inch ($850)
The M4 MacBook Air at under its $1,000 MSRP is the best deal you're going to find for a MacBook at these specs. The base M4 chip offers a surprising amount of juice for more intensive tasks, plus, unlike earlier MacBook Air models, it can connect with two external monitors with the lid open, making it a great all-rounder.
Microsoft Surface Pro, 12-inch ($885)
If you're looking for the versatility of Windows in a tablet form, you should look first at the Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch. Just know you'll need to spend extra for the Flex Keyboard if you intend to make this your laptop as well.
Canon PowerShot V1 ($980)
Whether you need a reliable camera to take sharp photos and videos for a class project or you're working on vlogs for your budding YouTube career, the Canon PowerShot V1 is the best no-fuss way to get started. The lens is fast enough to get some decent shallow depth of field to really make your captured content look professional.